ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on April 25, 2004. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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TURKISH CYPRIOTS SAY ''YES''
Greek Cypriots who have been accusing Turkish Cypriots of causing insolubility for years voted against the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan and no solution was reached due to Greek Cypriots' 'no' votes. Greek Cypriots explained why they did not vote in favor of the plan with a letter to the Council of Europe. 64.9 percent of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the Annan plan, while 75.8 percent of Greek Cypriots voted against the plan. Meanwhile, there are positive developments about embargo issue. The European Union (EU) invited Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat to Brussels to evaluate results of twin referenda which were held in Cyprus on Saturday. Talat who has announced that he would go to Brussels on Tuesday will ask the EU to lift embargoes imposed on TRNC.
ERDOGAN: ''GREEK CYPRIOTS LOST''
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said regarding results of synchronous referenda in Cyprus that he thought that Greek Cypriot side lost out. Erdogan noted that the world saw that Turkish Cypriots took sincere and determined steps, and stated that Greek Cypriots wasted this step of good will. Erdogan said that he thought that Greek Cypriot people lost out.
MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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DENKTAS: ''I WILL NOT RESIGN''
After Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots voted ''no'' in yesterday's referendums, President Rauf Denktas of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said, ''if United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan had been accepted, I would have resigned. But, our state will survive. Now, I will continue acting as the president, and exert efforts for recognition of TRNC.''
EU EXPRESSES ITS SORROW
The European Union (EU) has expressed its sorrow over results of the referendums in Cyprus. Stressing that the only opportunity to find a lasting solution to the Cyprus issue was missed, the EU congratulated Turkish Cypriot people for their sincerity. The EU expressed its sorrow over Greek Cypriot side's ''no'' votes in the referendum.
CONDITIONAL RECOGNITION
Recognition of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) by the European Union (EU) and the United States will facilitate relations between Turkey and the Greek Cypriot administration. Ankara's recognizing the EU-member Greek Cypriot side as a sovereign state in southern Cyprus will be brought onto agenda in the coming days. The Greek Cypriot side will be allowed to open an embassy in Ankara.
SABAH (LIBERAL)
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TALAT: ''PRESIDENT DENKTAS SHOULD RESIGN''
After Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots voted ''no'' in yesterday's referendums, Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has called on President Rauf Denktas to resign. He said, ''now, political developments will be quite different. President Denktas' image in the world does not conform to the new policy. We expect President Denktas, who pursued a campaign against interests of Turkish Cypriot people, to resign.''
GUL: ''WE WANTED TWO 'YES' VOTES''
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has said, ''we wanted both the Turkish Cypriot side and the Greek Cypriot side to vote 'yes'' in the referendum. The isolation of TRNC should come to an end now. We believe that the European Union (EU) will take the necessary steps. Now, the Greek Cypriot side cannot claim that they represented the whole island.''
CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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NEW PERIOD IN CYPRUS
A total of 65 percent of Turkish Cypriot people voted in favor of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan's plan and 75 percent of Greek Cypriots voted against the plan in synchronous referenda in Cyprus on Saturday. After the result, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) officials stressed that embargoes imposed on Turkish Cypriot side should be lifted. TRNC President Denktas who has announced that he would not resign from his post said that the Annan plan has been killed and it should be made public. Greek Cypriots will join the European Union (EU) on May 1. Turkey will explain on international platform that ''Cyprus Republic'' does not represent Turkish Cypriots and ask embargoes to be lifted.
GENERAL STAFF NOT INFORMED
Although Turkish Foreign Ministry said that concerned institutions were informed about developments regarding territorial waters of Cyprus, Chief of General Staff Gen. Hilmi Ozkok's statements showed that it is not true. Restriction of harmless transition of Turkish war ships in territorial waters of Cyprus will cause serious security problems. Although Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that military was given information and its approval was taken at every process in formation of the Annan plan, it was reported that the law which General Staff consider unacceptable was put in the document without approval of General Staff.
RADIKAL (LEFT)
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SECURITY FORCES DETAIN 48 PEOPLE IN DEMONSTRATION AGAINST YOK
Security forces have detained a total of 48 people who wanted to hold a demonstration in Istanbul's Taksim Square to protest the Higher Education Board (YOK). Students gathered in the square and chanted slogans against the YOK. Security forces warned students to disperse immediately. When students did not abide by warnings, security forces detained 48 of them by using tear-gas and clubs.
ANKARA TO TAKE ACTION
After Turkish Cypriots voted ''yes'' and Greek Cypriots voted ''no'' in yesterday's referendums, Ankara has stated that it was proved that the Greek Cypriot side prevented the solution in the island. Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said, ''Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot people have determined their own future. Isolation of Turkish Cypriot people who displayed their attitude in favor of the solution, should come to an end. Embargoes imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) for years, should be lifted.''
TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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IT IS EU'S TURN
Greek Cypriots who voted against the Annan plan will be member of the European Union (EU), but Turkish Cypriots who wanted solution will not be member of the Union. A total of 65 percent of Turkish Cypriots voted in favor of the plan and showed that they want solution and peace. The EU which is getting prepared to accept Greek Cypriots as member on May 1 has some problems, since 76 percent of Greek Cypriots voted against the plan.
DENKTAS: ''OUR 'NO' CAMPAIGN HAS REACHED ITS PURPOSE''
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) President Rauf Denktas has said that the ''no'' campaign he had carried out against Annan's plan had reached its purpose, adding, ''Annan's plan has been killed.'' Holding a news conference at the Saray Hotel in Lefkosa after results of referenda were announced, Denktas said that the international community had promised to recognize the TRNC and lift embargo on it in case Turkish Cypriots voted 'yes' and Greek Cypriots voted 'no'. ''It was a threat against Greek Cypriots but they did not pay attention and said 'no'. They were very important statements for us. Those words were a note to people who have been living under embargo for forty years. They have said 'yes'. Thus we have gotten the right to say 'let's keep your word' to those who made these promises. Finally, our 'no' campaign has reached its purpose. Annan's plan has been killed,'' he said.
ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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DENKTAS REFUSES TALAT'S CALL FOR RESIGNATION
Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) has said that there was no room for President Rauf Denktas in the new period. ''We will launch diplomatic initiatives for recognition of TRNC. These initiatives will entail us to change the political structure of TRNC,'' he stressed. In response, President Denktas refused Prime Minister Talat's call for resignation. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul of Turkey refrained from making any comments about the issue, saying that it was a matter of domestic affairs of TRNC.
(EÖ-UK) 25.04.2004